More titles for Penn State in a playoff system? Not necessarily

A playoff in college football might have given Penn State a chance to win six more national championships.

It also might have denied fans the 1983 Sugar Bowl or the epic 1987 Fiesta Bowl. And most likely it would have delivered Michael Robinson vs. Vince Young in the 2005 semifinals.

So which do you choose? Bowls or playoff?

The occasion of this week's announcement that the Bowl Championship Series will morph into the PlayoffBowl Championship Series prompted looks both forward and back. In 2014, major college football will host its first version of a playoff, with a four-team tournament overshadowing the remainder of the bowl system.

It's a simple concept. A selection committee will choose four teams to play semifinals on either New Year's Eveor New Year's Day, then the winners will play for the title on what will be known as Championship Monday. Essentially, it's an NCAA basketball tournament overlay, only with more Dick Vitalesque, bloodcurdling screams of inequity for those unselected.

But what if college football had this all along? Say in 1969, when Penn State went 11-0, but President Nixon awarded the national championship to Texas? Or in 2005, when Penn State came within one second (and one Chad Henne-to-Mario-Manningham touchdown pass) of finishing at least fourth in the rankings?

Since 1968, when Joe Paterno coached the first of his five unbeaten teams, Penn State likely would have qualified for a four-team playoff eight times. That doesn't include the unbeaten 1973 team, which never was ranked above fifth in the Associated Press poll.

How many titles might Penn State have won? Probably two — and probably in different years.

Here's a look at how the playoffs might have shaken out, based on Associated Press polls and BCS standings.

Predicted playoff champ: Penn State. Paterno loved this team, which squeaked by some opponents (15-14 over Syracuse, for example) while demolishing others. Texas also had a 15-14 victory — against Arkansas in what was tabbed then as the "Game of the Century." President Nixon attended, declaring the winner the national champ. But the 1969 Lions — featuring Dennis Onkotz, Mike Reid, Charlie Pittman and Neal Smith — win the matchup on the field.

Predicted playoff champ: Alabama. The 1979 Sugar Bowl actually put together a 1-2 matchup, with the Tide winning 14-7 in the most asked-about game of Mike Guman's career. No reason to suspect a different finish.

Predicted playoff champ: Georgia. Here's guessing Penn State doesn't win the title (its first) under a playoff format. The semifinal is a rematch of a regular-season game won (controversially) by Penn State. Tight end Mike McCloskey's late (and apparently out-of-bounds) catch helped Penn State clinch a 27-24 victory at home in September. The Cornhuskers avenge that in the rematch, then lose to Georgia.

Predicted playoff champ: Oklahoma. The Sooners previously lost to Miami (at home) when quarterback Troy Aikman was injured for the season. The semifinal rematch provides Oklahoma with closure, and the title-game win over Penn State stands.

Predicted playoff champ: Miami. The game that changed college football's bowl system doesn't happen, because Oklahoma's defense stymies Penn State before Penn State's defense has the chance to stymie Miami.

Predicted playoff champ: Texas. But what a semifinal. Instead of playing Florida State and Drew Weatherford in the Orange Bowl, Penn State plays Texas and Vince Young in the semifinals. Young vs. Michael Robinson. Would have been a gem.